'Coalbrookdale by Night' 1801 by Philip de Loutherbourg.
Science Museum.
If this particular work has come to symbolise the birth of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, is there such a painting that represents the death and subsequent consequences of it? Such a painting if it exists would surely be a very British painting too because broadly speaking the repercussions of that encapsulation in this work spread the world over, and yet 'peace' has come to reign here in a full circle. Gone are town-sized sites of blast furnaces; coke ovens and everything that emanates from them, or indeed feeds them, and redundant are the people who's lives were made and made miserable by whatever particular brand of trade formed an intrisic key to the character of the place by the myriad manufacturing processes unique to it.
The streets are no less rich in inspiration today's post-industry, and many a feral artist still searches for the essence; the remnants and monuments of former glory in it's decay, despair and neglect, with only fading family stories, scratchings of memory and ghosts for company.
These artists now produce the art that future generations will hold onto as this place evolves into bland facades and faceless corporate identities devoid of love in the planning or even a shred of character; symbols of globalism and the decline of community. The losing of our own souls to the future somewhere in the message.
Not all is lost, thankfully, so ..
Let me shine a light on one such artist in an evening of many talents; all showcasing the joys and the great many things still worth celebrating and shouting about in this famous City;
Stephen Henshall works plein air on the streets of today producing hugely characterful and wonderfully detailed pen and watercolour drawings worthy of the eye! Without hurry he is presently working toward a publication in mind in the spirit of Neville Malkin's 'A Grand Tour.'
A book whose individual Architectural stories were serialised weekly in The Evening Sentinel in the 1970's - is once more a route travelled again by Stephen building by landmark across the City with a refreshing candour proving there's so much life in this old dog of a City!
There really is so much more if that were not enough, but instead of giving the entire evening away I'll hint at the work of photographer Phil Shallcross.. the poetry of Lindsay Bainbridge, the penmanship of author Dave Proudlove and the writer of a lifetime of words in Reg Crawford..
All will be present on the night to speak to.
I'll grab the last paragraph here to say that an ongoing body of work of my own making will also be present amidst the luxurious setting of the infamous British Pottery Manufacturers Federation Club. Affectionately known as The Potters' Club, it offers the highest standards of fine dining and hospitality for miles around and you can follow this link to book your table in the dining room as part of this unique evening: https://www.thepottersclub.co.uk/
There is private club parking; a full bar service and meals not exclusive to the dining room experience.
Let me shine a light on one such artist in an evening of many talents; all showcasing the joys and the great many things still worth celebrating and shouting about in this famous City;
Stephen Henshall works plein air on the streets of today producing hugely characterful and wonderfully detailed pen and watercolour drawings worthy of the eye! Without hurry he is presently working toward a publication in mind in the spirit of Neville Malkin's 'A Grand Tour.'
A book whose individual Architectural stories were serialised weekly in The Evening Sentinel in the 1970's - is once more a route travelled again by Stephen building by landmark across the City with a refreshing candour proving there's so much life in this old dog of a City!
There really is so much more if that were not enough, but instead of giving the entire evening away I'll hint at the work of photographer Phil Shallcross.. the poetry of Lindsay Bainbridge, the penmanship of author Dave Proudlove and the writer of a lifetime of words in Reg Crawford..
All will be present on the night to speak to.
I'll grab the last paragraph here to say that an ongoing body of work of my own making will also be present amidst the luxurious setting of the infamous British Pottery Manufacturers Federation Club. Affectionately known as The Potters' Club, it offers the highest standards of fine dining and hospitality for miles around and you can follow this link to book your table in the dining room as part of this unique evening: https://www.thepottersclub.co.uk/
There is private club parking; a full bar service and meals not exclusive to the dining room experience.
Federation House, Station Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2SA
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